Erection and construction of multispan bridges and piers



May 12, 1970 B. SUTER 3,511,057

ERECTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MUL'IISPAN BRIDGES AND PIERS Filed Oct. 14, 1968 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q I I l l l l /NVENTOR. BRUNO SUTER B. SUTER May 12, 1970 ERECTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MULTISPAN BRIDGES AND PIERS Filed Oct. 14, 1968 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BRUNEI SUTER B. SUTER 3,511,057 EREOTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MULTISPAN BRIDGES AND PIERS May 12, 1970 9 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Oct. 14, 1968 INVENTOR BRUNU SUTER B. SUTER- 3,511,057

ERECTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MULTISPAN BRIDGES AND PIERS May 12, 1970 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 14, 1968 INVENTOR BRUNU SUTER B. SUTER May 12, 1,970

3,511,057 ERECTION AND CONSTRUCTIONOF MULTISPAN BRIDGES AND PIERS 9 sheets sheet 6 Filed Oct. 14, 1968 INVENTOR BRUNO SUTER N CA: 3:31;

May 12, 1970 B. SUTER 3,511,057

ERECTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MULTISPAN BRIDGES AND PIERS Filed Oct. 14, 1968 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 8

IN VE N TOR BRUNO SUTER B. SUTER May 12, 1970 ERECTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MULTISPAN BRIDGES AND PIERS Fild Oct. 14, 1968 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR BRUNO SUTER May 12, 1970 B. suTER 3,511,057

ERECTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MULTISPAN BRIDGES AND PlERs Filed Oct. 14, 1968 Y 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR BRUNO SUTER United States Patent O 3,511,057 ERECTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF MULTISPAN BRIDGES AND PIERS Bruno Suter, Hubertushone, Germany, assignor to Strabag Ban-AG, a corporation of Germany Filed Oct. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 767,179 Int. Cl. E02b 17/00 US. Cl. 61-465 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for and a method of erecting multiplespan bridges or piers wherein the foundations and piles are laid from a supporting structure which floats to a prearranged area and while mounted on auxiliary supports the piles are constructed for each span, each new span becoming a supporting structure which rests on piles that have already been installed and auxiliary supports which are displaceable along the bridge, by means of construction plant arranged on the supporting structure such as lifting gear, pile drivers and s n.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known in the art that the foundations and piles of a multiple-span bridge are laid from a mobile carriage which runs in front of the supporting structures and is also used for concreting the superstructure. In this manner, the mobile carriage is used to build, and thus carry the supporting structures in the forward direction. In structures of this kind, the bridge is built from the bottom up, i.e., starting from an abutment, while the supporting structures are moved forwards from land on previously erected piles.

Unfortunately, this known process cannot be used in situations where it is impossible, due to unfavorable geography, to form a bridge head and to begin building the bridge on an abutment. Circumstances such as these prevail for example in the construction of piers or landing stages in areas where impenetrable forest extends right up to and on the coastal waters. In cases such as this, both the construction plant and materials have to be brought in over water and the actual construction of the bridge started from a water area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a method by means of which the building of a bridge can be started at any point along the proposed bridge span in impass able country or water-covered subsoil, and continued in both directions of the proposed bridge span.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by virtue of the fact that, before construction begins, the supporting structure is brought into position over the building area longitudinally of the span of the proposed bridge and is first elevated on supporting legs located outside of the proposed cross-section. Then, the piles defining one span of the bridge are erected from the supporting structure and the supporting structure itself is lowered down on to them, being subsequently displaced longitudinally of the bridge in such a way that that section provided with the supporting legs is situated in the next span of the bridge and, by lowering the supporting legs, is supported on the foundation soil. Finally, the next piles are erected, the supporting structurelowered on to them and moved forwards into the next span of the bridge. The advantages of this method is that, under adverse conditions, building of the bridge can be started from the water.

After the supporting structure has been elevated on supporting legs resting on the foundation soil, a working 3,511,057 Patented May 12, 1970 platform is initially established. This platform lies above the water and is used to erect the first piles by which the supporting structure is subsequently carried. To erect the next piles, the supporting legs are retracted and let down again after the supporting structure has moved forward so that the supporting structure travels forward as if it were stepping from one span of the bridge into the next.

In order to minimize the forces required to lift the supporting structure, it is of advantage initially to elevate only a relatively small central section of the structure, which provides a working platform, together with the item of plant required to erect the structural supports. The apparatus further provides extension members at both ends of this central section so that when the piles have been installed, the platform is extended to a length covering at least two spans of the bridge after it has been lowered on to the piles. Assembly of the supporting structure and installation of the first bridge piles thus involve very little effort because the erection of the first piles requires only that central part of the supporting structure which is necessary for this purpose. The rest of the supporting structure is completed with the assistance of the lifting gear already installed on the centre section which is also used to erect the piles.

To enable the supporting structure to be moved forward from one bridge span to the next, projecting freely by a distance corresponding to the length of one span,

the item of plant arranged on the supporting structure is drawn back onto the previously completed superstructure of the preceding span. The supporting structure moves forward into the next span of the bridge while the front supporting legs, as seen in the direction of travel, are transposed rearwards into that part of the supporting structure situated in the preceding span of the bridge. This can be done with the lifting gear which is also used to install the foundations and piles. As the supporting structure continues to move further forwards, the rear supporting legs, as seen in the direction of travel, which for reasons of stability are lowered back into the projecting part before the front legs are transposed and let down, may :move freely past the already erected piles because they are arranged on the supporting structure outside the bridge cross-section.

Apart from construction of the piles and foundations,

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A supporting structure which can travel on piles in the longitudinal direction of the bridge and which consists of a frame-like non-distorting centre section and beamlike extension of sections detachably connected to the centre section, is particularly suitable for carrying out the method of construction described above. The supporting structure is further provided with supporting legs so arranged on the centre section that they can be raised and lowered by lifting gear and which can be inserted into brackets provided in the extension members. The advantage of this arrangement is that even relatively heavy items of plant can be safely raised on the supporting legs in conjunction with the non-distorting centre section. On completion of the supporting structure, the lifting gear may be used to lift and lower the supporting legs when the supporting structure is moved further forward along the bridge.

Brackets'in which the supporting legs are guided are advantageously arranged on the centre section of the supporting structure, projecting laterally beyond the profile of the bridge to be built. In this way, the supporting structure is able to travel freely past previously erected piles. At the same time, the stability of the supporting system is improved by the supporting legs around far enough outside of the bridge width.

If the apparatus for carrying out the method is used for bridges providing access over water, it is of particular advantage to design the centre section and extension members of the supporting structure as floating bodies adapted to one another in their dimensions in such a way that the extension members fit into the frame openings in the centre section. In this way, it is possible to carry the components of the supporting structure to where they are to be used, even in shallow water, and to transport heavy plant on the supporting structure itself to the required destination. By adapting the extension members to the dimensions of the frame openings in the middle section, a pontoon of considerable carrying capacity is formed on which extremely heavy loads can 'be carried with minimum draught. The extension member either may not be connected with the middle section at all, or may be connected to it in such a way as to be readily detached. When the middle section is raised on the supporting legs, the extension members are initially left behind on the water so that only those parts and items of plant that are absolutely necessary need be lifted out of the water on the supporting legs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A description of the basic principles of this invention will more readily follow a description of the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top -view of a supporting structure in the form of a floating pontoon with a crane on it;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the subject of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the elevation of the middle section of the supporting structure together with the crane on the supporting legs resting on the seabed;

FIG. 4 shows, in side elevation, the erection of two central piles of ,a landing stage or pier from the supporting structure;

- FIG. 5 shows the erection of another pile of the pier from a previously completed supporting structure;

FIG. 6 shows the completed supporting structure in position on the piles of the bridge;

FIG. 7 shows an intermediate stage in the construction of the pier showing the supporting structure in the position in which it has moved forward and projects into the next span of the bridge;

FIG. 8 shows the supporting structure in still another position;

FIG. 9 is a top view from above the structure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-section through the subject of FIG. 9 on the line X--X; and

FIG. 11 is a section through the pier shown in FIG. 9 on the line XI-XI.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The components of the supporting structure 11, when assembled, form a pontoon which carriesa crane 14 with jibs 15 and four supporting pillars 16 and 17 as shown in FIG. 1, and which will float to where it is required for use as shown in FIG. 2.

A landing stage or pier, denoted by the reference 10 in FIG. 7 to 11, leading out to open water ways is built with the aid of supporting structure 11 which consists of a frame-like nondistorting middle section 11a and beam-like extension members 11b and 110. Both the middle section 11a and the extension members 11b and 110 are in the form of floating boxes. In cross-section, the middle part 11a is similar in shape to a rectangular frame whose longerons 11a are arranged at a wide enough distance apart from one another so that the superstructure, consisting of the main girders 12 and the roadway section, are accommodated between them. The middle part 11a and extension members 1111 and are matched to one another dimensionally in such a way that four extension members 110 fit into the frame opening of the middle part 11a defined by the longerons 11a and cross girders 11a", while two extension members 11b fit into the space outside and adjacent to longeron 11a between brackets 13 which is arranged on the middle section as an extension of the girders 11a".

After the supporting structure 11 has been floated into the longitudinal axis position of the proposed pier assumedly between the locations 22 and 23 defining an arbitrary span, as shown in FIG. 3, the jibs 15 are mounted on the crane 14 while the supporting legs 16 and 17 are inserted into the openings 18 provided for them in brackets 13. The supporting legs 16 and 17 are then lowered on to the seabed by means of hoists 19 brought into position beforehand, while the middle section 11a of the supporting structure together with the crane 14 is lifted clear of the water on the supporting legs 16 and 17 and raised to the level of the section of superstructure to be built. After the extension members are initially lowered into the water, the members 11b are then mounted by means of the crane 14 on the middle section 11a in line with the longerons 11a. Following the installation of an equipment carriage 31 which travels along the longerons of the supporting structure 10 and which holds drilling tools, jacketed tubes and so on, the foundations and piles 22 and 23 are laid from the supporting structure 11 with the aid of crane 14 illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. In the embodiment under discussion, the piles 22 and 23 each consists of two steel concrete or prestressed concrete pillars 22a, 22b and 23b which are connected together at their upper ends by girders 22c and 23c, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 9. Detachably secured to these yoke girders are stubs 32 on to which the supporting platform 11 is lowered on roller blocks 33 on completion of the piles 22 and 23 (FIG. 11).

When the supporting structure 11 is resting on the piles 22 and 23, the extension members 110 may be mounted by means of the crane 14 (FIG. 6). The front supporting legs 17 looking in the direction of travel are then removed by the crane and inserted into openings 34 provided for them in the extension members 11b, as shown in FIG. 7. For simplicity and clarity in FIGS. 7 and 8, assume span 29 completed, the supporting struc ture 11 with the retracted supporting legs 16, 17 is then moved forwards towards the abutment still to be built with its front end freely projecting by such a distance that the middle section 11a is situated in the following bridge span 30- while the front extension member 11b covers the location 25 of the next pile. The supporting legs 16 are let down, the supporting legs 17 are transposed by the crane 14 and also let down onto the seabed. The next pile 25 is then erected and so on until the row of piles is completed up to the abutment of the pier. Installation of the superstructure 12 can then be started from the base of the bridge, again with the assistance of the supporting structure 11 and the crane 14.

The substructure 12 may also be erected immediately after the individual piles have been installed, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The prefabricated concentrate sections for the substructure such as steel concrete piles, prefab-. ricated prestressed concrete supports and yoke beams are brought in like the prestressed main girders of the bridge via the completed superstructure with loaders 35, transferred by portal cranes 36 (FIG. 8) to the supporting structure 11, taken over by the crane 14 and installed. As soon as a pile, for example the pile 24, is ready and the supporting structure is rested on it, the crane 14 and the portal cranes are transferred to the completed superstructure 12 of the preceding span 28 and 30, respectively, before the supporting structure 11 moves further forward into the next span, the supporting legs 17 are transposed into that furtherest part of the supporting structure 11 situated in the next span where they are inserted into the openings 34. At the same time, the displaceable carriage suspended from the lower boom of the supporting structure 11 is fastened to the pile 24 so that during the transfer of the supporting structure 11 into the next span, it rolls along but does not change its position relative to the pile 24. When the supporting structure 11 is positioned in the area of the span 30, the supporting legs 16 are let down onto the seabed, the crane 14 is moved forward beyond the pile 24 so that it is able to return the supporting legs 17 back to the front. After the supporting legs 17 have been let down onto the seabed, the supporting structure 11 will be firmly supported in the area of span 30. The carriage 31 and the crane 14 may then move forward into the span 30 area on the supporting structure 11, and the foundations and piles 25 installed. This situation is obtained repeatedly for each span area until construction is completed. The sequence of transfer and progress of construction is shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, and includes cross-sectional views of structure under construction as well as completed superstructure.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of constructing multiple-span bridges and piers which comprises:

(a) positioning a support structure which carries heavy construction equipment such as lifting gear, pile drivers and cranes over an area designated for building a proposed bridge span;

(b) installing auxiliary supports for the support structure outside the designated area for building a proposed bridge span;

(c) elevating the support structure on the auxiliary support;

(d) driving piles into position in the seabed which defines one span of the proposed bridge to be built using heavy construction equipment located on the support structure;

(e) erecting superstructure on the piles driven into position in the seabed;

(f) lowering the support structure onto the piles and superstructure;

(g) extending the extendible members of the support structure into the next proposed span of the bridge;

(h) installing auxiliary supports outside the area defining the proposed next bridge span;

(i) displacing the support structure longitudinally of the bridge into the area of the proposed next span wherein the method is repeated for each span beginning with installing auxiliary supports and displacing the support structure longitudinally of the bridge into the area of the proposed next span until the completion of all spans of the bridge.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the positioning step includes floating the support structure which contains heavy construction equipment and supports for raising the support structure out of the water, to the area designated for building a proposed bridge span.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elevating step includes raising only a small section of the supporting structure as a work platform together with the item of construction equipment required to erect the support structurally required to elevate the suppport structure.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the displacing step includes:

transferring the construction equipment onto the completed superstructure;

reinstalling the front supporting legs, as seen in the direction of travel of the support structure, rearwards into that part of the support structure extendible members extending into the preceding proposed bridge span.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the extending step includes assemblying the extendible members of the support structure by a crane which is subsequently used to lay the foundations and piles.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the erecting step includes concreting the superstructure from the support structure.

7. An apparatus for construction of bridges and piers having heavy construction equipment contained thereon and buoyantly disposed to be transported on water, the improvement which comprises:

a non-distorting middle frame section for containing thereon heavy construction equipment and forming a work platform wherefrom piles are driven into the seabed which define a span;

a multiple of beam extension members detachably connected with said middle frame section to extend into the preceding and succeeding areas of the subsequent spans;

a multiple of supports detachably connected to said middle frame section, said supports detachably connected to said beam extension members when said beam extension members are plied to displace said support structure into a preceding or subsequent span area,

a means of driving said supports into the seabed;

and

a means of elevating said support structure on said supports.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 which includes brackets projecting laterally wherein the supports are guided outside the proposed bridgespan.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said middle frame section and beam extension members are buoyantly constructed for floating the support structure and construction equipment onto the construction site.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,935,854 5/1960 Thompson et al 61-46 2,997,852 8/ 1961 Suderow 61--46.5 3,283,516 11/1966 De Long et al. 61-465 FOREIGN PATENTS 537,5 00 6/ 1941 Great Britain.

J. KARL BELL, Primary Examiner I 52% v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIQN Patent No. 3,511,057 7 Dated May 1.2, 1970 Inv'entor(s) UNO SUTER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

F Column 1, line 4, "Hubertushone" should be --Bensberg 'bei Koln--column 1, line 7, insert -Clai.ms priority, application Germany, Oct. 13, 1967, P 16 58 631.5"

Column 4, line 75, "furtherest" should be furthest Column 6, line 2, "suppgort"(2nd occurrence) should be support line 14, "assemblying" should be assembling V SIGNED AND swan WIS/m will}?W;1 r M Fl t h It. E. m dttesting Offi 1 @omissiqnew of Patents 

